Man allegedly killed by rabbi at California Costco pictured for first time — as new details emerge

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A prominent rabbi who mowed down a Costco worker with his car in Ventura County did so on purpose and not accidentally, prosecutors claimed on Monday.

Abba Avrohom Bryski, a 35-year-old educator from Agoura Hills, is facing felony murder charges over the death of 28-year-old Nicholas Lang outside a Costco warehouse in Camarillo, northwest of LA. He is also charged with resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer.

Emergency services were called to the West Ventura Boulevard gas station just after 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 following reports a pedestrian had been hit by a vehicle near the gas pumps.

According to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Lang was painting stripes on the pavement when the rabbi aimed his Infiniti Q60 coupe at Lang “intentionally.” Lang was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center but succumbed to his injuries.

“His life was tragically cut short by an individual whose alleged actions demonstrated a shocking disregard for human life,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko in a statement. “We are committed to holding the defendant accountable and pursuing justice for the victim and his loved ones.”

Bryski appeared in court Tuesday and continued his arraignment to November 18. He is in custody without bail, the district attorney’s office said.

Prosecutors did not disclose whether or how the two knew each other. The investigation remains ongoing.

Jail records list Bryski as a rabbi and educator. He is the son of Rabbi Moshe Bryski, the head of the Chabad of the Conejo. However, the broader Chabad-Lubavitch organization has disputed that the younger Bryski held any official standing within the movement.

The fatal crash occurred at the site of a brand-new retail warehouse scheduled to open on Oct. 30, where the attached gas station had been trading since May.

An obituary site was recently created for Lang, who is from Modesto, where anyone can donate money to plant a tree in his honor. The tree would be planted by the Arbor Day Foundation to help restore forestry destroyed by the devastating 2021 Bootleg Fire, which affected 413,765 acres of forest in southern Oregon.

His wife on the site shared 25 photos in remembrance of Lang, many depicting the two together. In some of the photos, Lang is carrying a child. In one photo, it appears as if Lang is proposing to her.

There are also multiple photos of the couple visiting a Disney-themed adventure park.

“In loving memory of Nicholas, who will be missed by so many. May this tree grow tall and strong as a living tribute to the beautiful soul that touched so many lives,” one person wrote on the site.

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